An Overview of your Skeletal System
What do we mean when we talk about your skeletal system? Your skeleton? Short answer – Yes. A more complete answer might be… The complex way your bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments interact to support and move your body, protect your internal organs, manufacture white blood cells and store minerals. The term skeletal system is frequently used interchangeably with musculoskeletal system. Your chiropractor knows this system inside out.
Parts of the System – Bones
There are 206 bones in an adult human body. (More than half of them are in the hands and feet!) But babies are born with 300! “Extras” in the skull make the baby’s head just flexible enough to get through the birth canal. They fuse as the little one grows to protect the brain. Similarly, the legs and arms have some extras to reduce the risk of injury while the baby is learning to crawl and walk (and falling over a lot!) By adolescents, these bones fuse and only 206 will remain. 
Bones are categorised as long, short, flat, and irregular. The tibia is long, for example, while the carpals (in your hands) are categorised as short. It’s not just a difference of length, but of structure. Long bones consist mostly of that white, smooth, hard material you think of when you think about skeletons. They have some marrow, but not as much as short and irregular bones (like the vertebrae), which are mostly spongy for marrow storage with just a small covering of the compact stuff. Flat bones can be found in the cranium, for example.
Parts of the Skeletal System – Cartilage
Hyaline cartilage lines the ends of bones where they would otherwise rub against each other. It is slippery and therefore reduces friction. Fibrocartilage is stronger and less flexible. It holds parts of the body together and provides shock absorption. It can be found in the meniscus of the knees and in the discs between the vertebrae. Your ear, trachea, and Eustachian tube are made of elastic cartilage, the most flexible of the three types.
Parts of the Skeletal System — Ligaments and Tendons
Ligaments and tendons are both stretchy, fibrous, connective tissues. Ligaments connect bones to other bones, while tendons connect muscles to bones. There are over 900 ligaments and about 4000 tendons. They facilitate movement at joints, hold bones and muscles together, and stabilise and strengthen joints.
How do I keep My Skeletal System Healthy?
There are many positive things you can do to protect the health of your skeletal system. Such as:
- Ensure you have enough calcium and Vitamin D in your diet
- Maintain a healthy weight so you don’t place excessive load on your joints,
- Wear appropriate footwear when exercising
- Ensure you include some weight-bearing activities for bone density
- Attend to technique when playing sport or dancing
- Consciously work to maintain and improve balance skills.
However, as with any complex system, things can still go wrong. Bones can fracture, cartilage can wear down, tendons can inflame, and ligaments can tear. Above all, remember that when these things happen, to seek the appropriate medical care immediately. Your chiropractor may be able to align your body for pain relief, healing, and improved mobility. Here at Back for Life Wellness, we know a lot about your skeletal system, so call us today on (03) 5381 1892 if you’d like our help to get moving better.
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